Cord blood banking? « Back to Group Discussions

[wantabeanbrat]

so i have been reading about cord blood banking and its benefits over the past few days....but am still not able to make up my mind whether or not we will go for it. No doubt doing this will have its set of benefits and potentially give me and DH peace of mind for life....but it is expensive !!

I am looking at ViaCord and they charge for first yr -  $2250 (cord blood only) and $3250 (cord blood and tissue). The ongoing annual storage charges are $125 (cord blood) and $275 (cord blood and tissue). 

Has any of you decided to go for cord blood and tissue banking for your baby? 

[finnegansmom]

We didn't do it with our first 3 and won't do it with this one.  I'm of the school of "the baby needs the cord blood now not maybe later", as I'm not convinced of the usability of cord blood/stem cells frozen in storage a number of years.  We delay the clamping as long as possible (last time over an hour).  From what I've read, the cord would need to be clamped fairly shortly after birth for there to be enough blood for storage.

[katelove]

I read a bit about it before my last LO was born. Those without a financial stake seem to agree that there is little to no benefit. The amount of stem cells in the cord is unlikely to be useful on their own, the viability of the stem cells is in serious doubt and the baby will get more benefit from them at birth ( as Judi mentioned). Seems to me that it is just another way to make money by exploiting parents vulnerability.

Sarah J Buckley has an article on her website if you want to read more.

[fayebond]

The idea is a nice one, and if you have a history of genetic problems in your family, its not the world's worst insurance policy.  But if its a stretch for the budget, I'd say no: if its not, why not?  Minimally, if your doc is against delayed cord clamping or you end up with a CS, try to donate the blood.  Donating it is free.  

I had originally decided against it, but was planning to donate the cord blood and placenta.  Don't know if that happened or not with DD, the CS drugs totally messed with my head and I forgot to tell my OB ahead of time.  This LO will be getting as much blood as s/he can get, so no donating.  

[guen]

Originally Posted by finnegansmom 

We delay the clamping as long as possible (last time over an hour).  From what I've read, the cord would need to be clamped fairly shortly after birth for there to be enough blood for storage.

For this reason and the fact that it is simply not financially feasible for us, we won't do it.  As to the viability of the stored blood/tissue later, I would have to ask DH (a biochemist) about that.  I suspect he'll say it depends on the storage facility.  I know in the research institutes and universities where he's worked, it wouldn't be a concern.  But through a for-profit organization...well, my confidence would waver, I think!

[sere234]

We're going to let the baby get all the blood he needs from the cord before we cut it. By then I'm sure it'll be pretty empty so cord blood banking isn't something we're planning on doing!

[eggsandpancakes]

i actally heard on another board i frequest that one of the mommies is having her baby's cord clamped as soon as possible to prevent jaundice. i have to wonder how that one got started, and by whom.

[fayebond]

eggsandpancakes, that is hysterical!  My sister (and all her babies) had bad jaundice, and one needed extra fluids.  I would assume that extra blood woudl be the best kind of fluid...

[eggsandpancakes]

i would think so too. the mom in question had been told all the extra blood meant the child 's system would have to work harder to process dead red cells, causing the jaundice.

at least in my own expierence, my babythat i screamed until they went away so he got some cord blood wasn't nearly as yellow as my baby i was too doped to stop them clamping the cord.

[guen]

I can't think late clamping could have a negative affect as far as jaundice goes.  At least, in my own tiny case study, #1,2 and 4 were all clamped early and #3 wasn't clamped until after the placenta had been birthed.  All were jaundiced!  ;-)
 

[MrsKoehn]

The way I thought it through was this. We DO NOT have the money for a "what if maybe" and the baby needs the blood now. SO we're going to delay cord cutting.